The Farr Side: Top 10 albums of ’09

David T. Farr

Thursday

Dec 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 24, 2009 at 10:34 AM

2009 has been a banner year for great music. Solo female artists commanded most of my attention, as they did most of the airwaves, too. Beyonce awed me with her impeccable style, Kelly and Pink rocked me and I went gaga for a new Lady from Britain — and I don’t mean Susan Boyle.

The Internet has changed the way people listen to music, but not me. I’m not ready to give in just yet. I like my CDs. I like to buy them, open the covers and read the liner notes. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that’s the way it should be – an album is an artist’s work, not something you just get off the computer.

2009 has been a banner year for great music. Solo female artists commanded most of my attention, as they did most of the airwaves, too. Beyonce awed me with her impeccable style, Kelly and Pink rocked me and I went gaga for a new Lady from Britain — and I don’t mean Susan Boyle.

Bands like Kings Of Leon and Shinedown finally broke through to the mainstream, while The Black Eyed Peas and The Fray continued putting out great songs. The BEPs took the Billboard charts by storm, breaking just about every record. “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” monopolized the No. 1 spot for 26 consecutive weeks.

Taylor Swift saw her star rise to incredible heights by cleverly bridging the gap between country and pop music. “Fearless” was the biggest-selling album of the year, but it failed to make my Top 10 list. I appreciate her knack for songwriting — I’m just not sold on her talent quite yet.

A few other CDs narrowly missed the cut. Releases by Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Kanye West, Dave Matthews Band, Shinedown and Green Day were all worthy, but they missed the top 10 for various reasons.

Here are my top 10 albums of 2009:

10. “Only By The Night,” Kings Of Leon. Hot off their 2009 Grammy win, Kings Of Leon burst into the mainstream with their single “Use Somebody.” The band is proof that all it takes it one song to do the trick, even if it meant years of trying. Caleb Followil’s strong vocals resonated with music lovers, especially those looking for something a little different. Thankfully it’s not just a one-hit-wonder kind of album. Tracks like “Sex On Fire,” “I Want You,” and “Closer” show alternative music’s relevance to pop.
Best Track: “Use Somebody”

9. “Circus,” Britney Spears. Just when everyone’s ready to count her out, Britney releases her best album to date. I’m a fan of the underdog story and who better to come out on top than Brit — the ultimate underdog. When she’s on, she’s on, and in this case she was spot-on with “Womanizer” and the title track, “Circus.” Both songs showcase what made her a star to begin with, but only this time it feels real to me. Her look, sound and presence is stronger than ever, considering her life’s been a circus the last few years.
Best Track: “Circus”

8. “The Fray,” The Fray. These guys know how to write and record poetic songs that truly hit home with me. I can’t think of another song this year that spoke to me as much as “You Found Me.” Who hasn’t questioned God’s whereabouts during tragedy, only to be found when you need him most? Joe, Isaac, Dave and Ben tromped the sophomore jinx with “The Fray,” an album of exceptional songs including “You Found Me,” Never Say Never,” “Where The Story Ends” and “Ungodly Hour.”
Best Track: “Ungodly Hour”

7. “Funhouse,” Pink. Pink doesn’t get the praise she deserves. She hasn’t put out a bad record yet, so why try to fix what isn’t broken? “So What” kicks the fun into action, but songs like “Sober” and “Please Don’t Leave Me” illustrate her artistry. Her rough-around-the-edges persona isn’t just a put-on, it’s an outlet for the feelings and emotions she conveys in her music. The music rocks, but when she wants to slow things down, you’ll see it’s her sensitive side peeking through. “I Don’t Believe You” is Pink at her most vulnerable yet.
Best Track: “Please Don’t Leave Me”

6. “The Blueprint 3,” Jay-Z. The perfect rap record. It has it all in terms of hardcore bass beat rhythms, insightful lyricism, substance and the golden touch of a certain someone named Alicia Keys. The two mega-artists team up on the No. 1 single “Empire State Of Mind,” one of the best songs of 2009. Other collaborations include the hit “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West, “So Ambitious” with Pharrell and “Real As It Gets” with Young Jeezy. “The Blueprint 3” is another reason why Beyonce’s better half should never go into retirement.
Best Track: “Empire State Of Mind”

5. “Glee: The Music” Vols. 1 and 2, The cast of “Glee.” It’s one thing to be on a TV show and sing familiar songs. It’s another to be on a TV show, sing familiar songs and do them this well. Advertisements for the show got me hooked the moment I heard “Don’t Stop Believin’,” but the interest didn’t stop there. Each week the hit show tackled more popular songs, both old and new in a variety of genres. Covered tracks here include “Somebody To Love,” “Bust A Move,” “Alone,” “Gold Digger,” “Imagine,” “Proud Mary,” “Sweet Caroline” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” “Glee” is like “High School Musical,” but the songs really do rock.
Best Track: “Don’t Stop Believin’”

4. “All I Ever Wanted,” Kelly Clarkson. The original “American Idol” came back with a vengeance after her last album failed to live up to expectations. This is a major success right out of the gate. The first single, “My Life Would Suck Without You,” became the fastest-rising song to No. 1 in history, reaching the top in a mere two weeks, beating her own record set with her debut, “A Moment Like This.” Clarkson’s powerful voice is well-adapted to handle such pop/rock candy as “I Do Not Hook Up,” “Save You,” “Long Shot,” and “Don’t Let Me Stop You.” But like Pink, when she chooses to show off her vulnerability she excels better than anyone. “Already Gone” is yet another masterpiece.
Best Track: “Already Gone”

3. “The Fame,” Lady Gaga. Like a page torn from Madonna’s diary, Lady Gaga knows how to cause a stir. If you weren’t talking about her music, you were talking about her attire — or vice-versa. “The Fame” came out a nowhere to turn the music charts upside down, Gaga style. The album’s first four tracks, “Just Dance,” “Lovegame,” “Paparazzi” and “Poker Face” each peaked at No. 1, a feat not seen since Mariah Carey did it in 1990. I honestly didn’t know what to think about Lady Gaga at first, but once the music got into your head, it was there to stay. Lady Gaga is a woman who knows what she wants and how to get there, even if it means giving the paparazzi what they want.
Best Track: “Poker Face”

2. “The E.N.D.” The Black Eyed Peas. The Energy Never Dies is right. The Black Eyed Peas made the album of their career with “The E.N.D.” Not only was it the group’s first stab at techno, it was BEP’s first to debut at No. 1 on Billboard when it was released. The infectious blend of beats, punchy lyrics and abundant energy drive this album like no other one this year. “Boom Boom Pow” started the madness atop the singles chart, but it was the irresistible groove of “I Gotta Feeling” that made everyone turn up the volume. If any song defined the year it has to be that one. The BEP’s were good in the beginning, but they were da bomb at “The E.N.D.”
Best Track: “I Gotta Feeling”

1. “I Am ... Sasha Fierce,” Beyonce. She started the year serenading the President and Mrs. Obama at the presidential inauguration and ended the year having been the recipient of 10 Grammy nominations for her album “I Am … Sasha Fierce.” “Sasha” is what Beyonce likes to refer to as her alter-ego, you know, the less inhibited one. The two-disc set does a nice job of separating the two. Disc 1 is the Beyonce we’ve come to know over the last few years, a ballad-focused effort with songs like “If I Were A Boy,” “Halo,” “Broken-hearted Girl,” and an updated version of “Ave Maria.” Disc 2, however, is more fierce — you’d better be ready to shake your groove thing. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” kicks the tempo better than other female artists this year, and it doesn’t stop there. “Diva,” “Radio” and “Sweet Dreams” keep the pace going. I’ve listened to this album repeatedly and never tire of it. It’s a perfect 10.
Best Track: “Halo”

David T. Farr is a Sturgis (Mich.) Journal correspondent. E-mail him at farrboy@hotmail.com.